Painting is all in the preparation, just take your time and you will be fine, however the lining can be a bit more tricky !!. Fortunatley over the years I have had a bit of practice buying various well worn model traction engines that I have stripped down and repainted.

I used fine line masking tape for front axle (Tamiya or Jammydog tape) which I find is alot easier for small areas, just takes a long time to set up tape, and remember that its best to get tape off as soon as you have painted so as to prevent ripping.

Thanks Phil. I thought I would have a go at hand painting the Hornplates and Tender with a view to spraying them if it all went wrong, but using the Craftmaster Coach Enamel and a Purdy brush I was quite impressed with the finish so thats how its goin to stay now !!. Just hope I can acheive the same sort of finish on belly tanks etc...

Question... I see you have put your hornplates together permanently (i.e. painted over all the nuts so it all looks good). I have held back from sorting all this on the basis it all needs to come apart to go on the boiler. I'd very much like to start bolting stuff together purely because there are bits everywhere, so how much does actually need to come apart to get the boiler in?

In reply to your question, in theory the boiler should fit between the assembled hornplates but if not then I will have to loosen the bolts slightly and then when all is fitted back together again repaint them !! bit of a pain I know but like yourself wanted to start putting it together. may also have to loosen assembly for crankshaft alignment, but im of the opinion that if the 2nd shaft tube and the axle tube are bolted to the hornplates then theres not going to be much of movement to play with. I made sure that when I bolted it all together it was on a perfectly flat surface (kitchen worktop is good for this). All will become clear when I get a boiler !!!

I think you will find that when you assemble onto the boiler, it's a lot easier if everything is "loose", get your boiler/horn plate bolts in place, then use crank shaft alignment tool & any flat surface & spacers etc etc to align everything up as you go round tightening all the various bolts up!!... Even then, (if My builds were anything to go by!) you'll probably still find a reason to unbolt everything anyway, so My advice don't paint nuts n bolts till you have a complete engine sitting on the floor!!

Sorry to give You this news, as I know how infuriating it is mucking up posh paint work!!